Whilst autumnal decor often finds its home on dining tables or mantles, bathrooms can also be the perfect candidate for a seasonal makeover.

Whether you’re looking to bring the warmth and cosiness of the season to a master bathroom or a cloakroom toilet, these bathroom decorating ideas for autumn will help you display your very own seasonal style.

How to decorate for autumn

Many of the core autumnal decorating concepts that apply to other areas of the home work in the bathroom too.

Bring in seasonal elements, such as pumpkins and gourds, incorporate natural materials and add spots of rich autumnal colours. Do-it-yourself decor and crafts can also add a personalised touch – and can be fun for the whole family.

Bathrooms are typically among the smaller rooms in the home, and often have a lack of display space compared to the kitchen or dining room. So, keep autumn bathroom decorating ideas focused and impactful.

Besides, bathrooms are functional spaces first, so the utilitarian aspects mustn’t be sacrificed for aesthetics. Keep accessories streamlined so they don’t interfere with your daily routine.

Bathrooms are also prone to moisture, so delicate materials and vintage finds also may not hold up well – unlike bathroom wall panels, which are 100% waterproof and truly stand the test of time no matter the season. With these considerations in mind, let’s get started on your autumn bathroom décor.

Simplicity is key

Bathrooms are practical spaces, often with little room for extra decoration.

Be deliberate and judicious in your autumn bathroom decorations – pick one colour to embrace and use it a few times throughout the room. Add a few accessories in your chosen hue along with a pumpkin or two, and your decorating is essentially done. If you're thinking about a bathroom feature wall, be mindful of where you add this so the decor doesn't look too busy.

Keep it natural

Decorating your bathroom for autumn is as easy as adding flowers or plants. Natural elements like leaves, branches, pampas grass and dried flowers can lend a laidback autumn appeal - these materials will complement beige wall panels, brown wall panels or red wall panels particularly well.

Place a vase of colourful grasses or branches with berries on your sink. Choosing a favourite orange or red bloom can add an instant touch of autumn – think marigolds, sunflowers, chrysanthemums and more.

Place these arrangements on your vanity or on an open shelf – even if you don’t want a bouquet, a single flower can offer elegant simplicity.

The warm colours from these bouquets and florals are a cosy antidote to the hard surfaces of a bathroom, and autumn foliage can add another layer of comfort. Repeat the hue from the arrangement on other easily interchangeable accessories, such as soap dispensers or hand towels.

Use a seasonal rug to ground the space

Simply swapping out your existing rug for one with a palette of rich autumn tones can give your space an easy makeover. Look to your bathroom’s existing colour scheme to select a new rug – if your colour palette is rooted in blue, for example, find a complementing autumnal colour.

Switch your shower curtain

You can create a focal point in your bathroom easily with an autumnal shower curtain.

A floral shower curtain in a warm colour can nod to the season whilst keeping in step with the rest of your bathroom. You can use a shower curtain to guide other autumnal bathroom decoration ideas.

Choose towels that coordinate with the shower curtain’s colour way, or repeat similar motifs from the design elsewhere.

Create a display

You could gather a collection of vases in a single autumn colour, and arrange them on a shelf in your bathroom.

Translucent glassware can add colour without much visual weight, which is a real plus for smaller bathrooms where space is limited. They can also look incredibly chic, whether empty or housing flowers, and can complement existing décor.

Vary the heights, textures and shapes for maximum impact – as a finishing touch, fill one or two with some fall branches. Texture can also be added by installing stone effect wall panels, for example.

Embrace neutrals

Even if you aren’t a fan of the warm, orange tones associated with autumn, you don’t need to sit autumn decor out. Instead of relying on colour, lean into the natural elements associated with the season.

Layer bathroom shelves with white pumpkins, and an arrangement of cotton boll branches. This can create a look that nods to autumn without clashing with the bathroom’s neutral colour palette.

Be sure to vary the materials and textures to create a display that is just right. Include wooden elements, plush textiles and a little sparkle from a glass accessory or two.